Youssef was waiting for us in the plaza in front of the Damascus Gate. When we got close enough that we could see him sitting on one of the steps leading up to the street, Sami slowed his pace a little.
“He doesn’t speak Hebrew, and just a little English.”
I nodded. When Youssef saw us he stood up and dropped the cigarette he had been smoking. He didn’t step on the butt, and as he approached I watched the embers glow orange and then die.
He was taller than Sami, and slimmer, but his face was the same, the skin tight on his cheeks and his chin very square. He wore glasses with thin metal frames, and his hair needed to be cut, but he was good-looking, and wore a shirt I remembered seeing on Sami a few weeks earlier.
“Hello,” he said, and put his hand out. I blinked, but then took it and we shook hands awkwardly.
“Hi, I’m Yael.” I forced a smile.
“Youssef.” His voice was like Sami’s, too, but louder and less hesitant.
“American?” It was a question, and I nodded but didn’t say anything. I put my hands in my pockets then, and looked at the ground.
Youssef said something to Sami then, the two of them going back in forth in Arabic for a few minutes. I tried to gauge the tone of Youssef’s voice, hearing what I thought was doubt, but might have just been exhaustion. Youssef shook his head at one point, and then Sami laughed and I looked up. Youssef asked something in Arabic, and Sami translated it for me.
“When do you go back to America?”
“In June,” I said, staring at Youssef.
“You like him?” he asked then, nodding toward Sami.
“Yes.” My voice was quiet, but I could tell he heard because he exhaled through his nose and then shrugged.
“Okay.” He shook my hand again and then looked back at Sami who said something in Arabic. Youssef smiled and gave me a little wave before walking back towards the gate. Sami moved closer to me then, and when he touched my back I realized I was shaking.
“My cab is in the parking lot,” he said in Hebrew, pointing across the street.
“Yeah,” I said.
Celebrating 10 Years & Marking the End of An Amazing Project
Celebrating 10 Years & Marking the End of An Amazing Project
Jewrotica is inspiring Jews and erotica with holiness and coolness, and is the pride of progressive Judaism. Jewrotica – awesome!
What an incredible night Jewrotica was!!!! There was this fantastic moment, in a sea of Jews of all sexualities, ages, backgrounds and denominations, that I realized we were all in this together! I hope that there are many more events coming to Austin soon!
I’m so glad that Jewrotica is represented here at Jewlicious! It’s bringing voices that need to be heard in the Jewish discussion and Jewish climate environment.
While many people fear the “sex talk,” Jewrotica offers an opportunity for writers and audiences to speak about sexuality in a open and safe space. When I attended a Jewrotica reading, I heard stories that reminded me that love takes many forms, and that expressing it is a vital part of who we are as a people.
Jewrotica is a great way to ask interesting questions about the interplay between sensuality and Jewish wisdom. Check it out.
Jewrotica rocks. It’s funny, it’s informative, it’s sexy, it’s interesting. Check it out!
I’m into Jewrotica. I went in for my second circumcision.
You may not tell your mom that you’re going to a live Jewrotica reading (or whatever clever name you will dub these events) but you will tell your friends. However, both would be jealous if they find out that they missed it. I think it will only be a matter of time before Jewrotica helps us reclaim the term “Dirty Jew” the way rap music has done for “The ‘N’ Word.” I know I am now proud to be a Dirty Jew!
Jewrotica is something that the community has needed for a long time so that people can actually learn, express and share and have good relationships without having to stumble through life. Check out the site and learn something. Have fun!
Such an amazing experience! The Sarah Lawrence Jewrotica workshop was more than I could have ever expected – a comfortable, safe, sultry environment where participants clearly felt good about sharing or listening to each other’s intimate experiences and relating them to sexy stories from the Torah. From the moment the workshop began, Ayo had a sweet presence that was kinetic and spread around the room; her storytelling abilities had everyone enraptured and made the conversation topics relata… Read more
Copyright © 2014 Jewrotica.org. All Rights Reserved.
Built with Love and Mischief.
Designed by Ayo Oppenheimer and
David Abitbol
Pingback: Double Mitzvah – Vayeshev | Jewrotica
Pingback: Permanent | Jewrotica
Pingback: Just One Kid | Jewrotica